Instead the pair — who are dating just a year and a half — took out a mortgage on a two-bed apartment, with repayments working out at just €1,000 instead.

However, it’s not all plain sailing for the couple, who appear on RTE’s Find Me A Home TV documentary, because Rachel — a contract teacher — is not eligible for a mortgage and therefore the property is legally in pilot Matt’s name.

Rachel said: “The way we’re working it is if we break up tomorrow, if he wasn’t genuine about it, he could keep the money I’ve given him because I can’t be on the mortgage.

"It didn’t work out that way. We’ll pay €500 each for mortgage and then split the bills. Effectively I’m going to be a lodger in his apartment.”

Rachel told how the situation is far from ideal and means the loved-up pair have had to keep tabs on what they owe each other, rather than simply renting together as they’d prefer.

She said: “One of the things we’re going to do is set up a personal contract between us so that in the case of us breaking up, he has to pay back the money I’ve invested.

"We’re both keeping a record of what we buy. It completely takes the romance out of the situation. I wish it was just a case of looking forward to moving in together.”

The couple ended up buying a two-bed apartment in Santry for €210,000 — which was €25,000 over the seller’s asking price.

And while the price is higher than they’d hoped to pay, the couple believe they were lucky to be able to buy rather than rent as it will save them money in the long run.

Rachel said: “We’re looking at €1,000 in monthly mortgage repayments on an apartment that would cost €1,700 a month if we were renting it. It makes no sense to rent when it’s cheaper to buy.”